Wednesday, September 17, 2008

One of the perks of having a food blog is that I often get copies of cookbooks to review. Obviously as a vegaquarian (or pescetarian, if you prefer), a lot of them are vegetarian in nature.

I recently received a copy of "Totally Vegetarian" in the mail and I must say I'm impressed. Now i'm sure the meat eaters are tuning out here, but stay with me. This cookbook has plenty of solid vegetarian fare that is sure to please any die-hard carnivore. The book is also chock-full of all sorts of information about ingredients and cooking tips and is definitely a very informative read. Scroll down to the bottom for how you can win a copy of this book for your collection!

I decided to try one of the recipes and wanted to try a soup in anticipation of the fall weather that's headed our way. The Potato-Chard Stew sounded absolutely fantastic, so I immediately jotted down the ingredients and headed to the grocery store.

Wow - very very tasty. I did make a few changes, such as using kale instead of chard, but wow, is this good! It's very hearty, so it'd be perfect for a chillier night when all you want is something warm and filling.

In large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and salt, and saute 3-4 minutes until it starts to soften. Add potatoes, bell pepper, garlic, ginger, and spices, and saute for a minute or two. Add coconut milk and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer 20-25 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Add kale leaves, remove from heat, and allow to sit for a minute or two for kale to soften. Serve and enjoy!

Want a copy of this cookbook for your very own??Simply leave me a comment by midnite on Sunday, September 21st. I'll pick a winner at random on Monday, September 22nd.

You know, I just love kale and happened to buy some locally, which still makes it very expensive for some reason but I am gonna go make this right now as I can't sleep a lick. I sit here and "stew" over things and make myself weird out. I am gonna go check Amazon about this book too. I love cookbooks to read even. Always great when you can actually make all the recipes and eat them too. Viva Veggies!

This recipe looks fantastic! With the farmer's market in full swing and the Autumnal Equinox this weekend, I'm itching to make some hearty soup! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the opportunity to enter to win this book!

Great recipe. Thanks! Lite coconut milk is available and healthier without loss of flavor. I recommend it. Also, I put the coconut milk in an icecube tray, freeze it, and pop out the "cubes" into a plastic bag. It is surprising how many recipes do very well without one full can of high-cholesterol-inducing coconut milk. All the taste, less health risk. Another interesting way to serve kale is to roll the de-stemmed leaves like a cigar, finely slice --- you get thin shreds that are excellent tossed on top of boiled & buttered potatoes...yummy. Kids will eat their greens presented this way. Otherwise, kale and other greens taste too "bitter" for kids to smile at.

I've been using it in a soup and a pasta bake this week - it's the perfect vegetable for my meat-eating self and my vegetarian husband. 90% of what I cook and eat at home is vegetarian, and it would be awesome to get some new inspiring ideas.

Thank you for posting the stew - it sounds like something we'd love, and we have almost all of the ingredients :D

First time ever to look at a blog - really enjoyed yours. Stew looks delicious - we love soup even in Florida's hot summers. Always looking for new and delicious ways to follow a more vegetarian lifestyle..like a new cookbook!

I've been reading 28 cooks for months and really enjoy your recipes and beautiful photography. But this is the first time I've sent you a comment - was compelled to say yes I love kale too and have coconut milk in the pantry right now. Was a vegetarian for several years in high school and early twenties, but started back with meat again feeding my husband and kids. Finally got to the point where I feel that it's fine to fix for them and then eat what I prefer from the meal. It's great to know what to call it - being a vegaquarian. Thanks for coining the word. And thanks for the great recipes and reviews.